The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP is commended for its ‘expertise in the field of LMA documentation’ and has a client roster of large private equity firms, Hungarian subsidiaries of European banks, and blue-chip companies. Recent highlights include acting for a syndicate of banks (including ING Bank) on a €1bn refinancing of MOL, and for Richter Gedeon Nyrt on a €150m credit line provided by ECB. ‘Very professional’ projects specialist Gergely Horváth heads the team.

Within Capital markets, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP advises underwriters, shareholders and public or private issuers on IPOs or private placements. It advised Invitel on a number of novel and unprecedented issuances including a floating rate notes offering (the first of its kind in Hungary) and a PIK notes offering. Practice head Edward Keller is advising Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance on certain aspects of its sovereign debt.

Within Competition, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP’s ‘unique, innovative and results-driven’ competition group focuses on antitrust advice pertaining to M&A transactions in the telecoms and energy sectors. It continued to advise Invitel Holdings on competition issues arising from its takeover of FiberNet, and advised on the €221m acquisition of Invitel International by Türk Telekom. Practice head Tihamér Tóth, who is a former GVH vice president, recently acted for E.ON Tiszántúli Áramhálózati in an abuse of dominance investigation.

Within Dispute resolution, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Good in energy and telecoms’, Réczicza White & Case LLP recently defended MAVIR in a €6m lawsuit. The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ Milán Kohlrusz and his team acted for MÁV in a $1.24bn US Federal Court litigation, and also defended Budapest Airport in a pollution claim.

Within Employment, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP advises on compliance investigations, mass redundancies and disputes, and is ‘highly recommended for labour law’ advice. Ildikó Csák’s team acted for Sony on a sizeable group dismissal in Gödöllo.

Within Energy, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP’s ‘thorough understanding of the specialised power sector’ has earned it a stellar client list including some of Hungary’s key energy players. The team, which has a ‘high level of proficiency’ and ‘comprehensive industry knowledge’, recently advised MVM on a potential energy trading strategy and represented GE Hungary in a dispute with one of Greenergy’s subsidiaries. Counsel Emoke Kovács and regulatory expert István Réczicza jointly lead the group.

Within Intellectual property , White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Solutions-oriented’ Réczicza White & Case LLP provides ‘very good’ advice on data privacy issues, copyright law, as well as trade mark exploitation and enforcement, and advises on a steady diet of transactions. The team recently advised Invitel Holding on the IP aspects of several acquisitions in the television sector. Counsel Balázs Fazekas heads the practice, and is ‘constructive in responding to challenges’ and ‘quick in understanding and assessing the key issues’.

Within Mergers and acquisitions, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Regional, buy-side M&A is a fundamental aspect of Réczicza White & Case LLP’s practice. It advised regular client Mid Europa Partners on its acquisitions of a 49.05% stake in Waberer’s Holding and a 65% share in Kent Hospital, both matters overseen by Rob Irving. The team also advised Invitel Holdings on its acquisition of FiberNet and assisted Falcon Group with the €574m auction sale of Ceské Radiokomunikace. Edward Keller has ‘a strong understanding of financial matters and transactional tactics’. Zsuzsa Kovács and Kinga Szabó left the firm in 2010.

Within Project finance, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP has a sturdy record in transport project financings, and is advising CIB Bank and M6 Duna Autópálya regarding the revision of finance agreements relating to the operation of the M5 and M6 motorways, respectively. Practice head Gergely Horváth assisted UniCredit Bank with modifying an existing €18m facility provided to BC-Therm for an energy generation project, and acted for European Investment Bank (EIB) on the asset financing of 25 trains.

Within Real estate and construction, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP’s ‘highly reputed’ real estate practice provides ‘excellent advice’ and ‘value for money’. The four-strong team managed to attract several new clients including Globe Trade Centre Hungary, which it is advising on a lease transaction. Other notable instructions include acting for Tippin Corporation on a sizeable redevelopment project in Budapest and advising Sony Group on a range of real estate matters. Group head Szabolcs Posta has ‘brilliant negotiating skills’ and ‘strong, in-depth knowledge’.

Within TMT, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Regulatory and transactional advice lie at the core of Réczicza White & Case LLP’s TMT practice, and clients remark on its ‘in-depth knowledge of the industry and legal institutions’ and ‘excellent’ negotiation skills when ‘dealing with very difficult counterparts’. The team recently advised Invitel Holdings on acquisitions in the cable transmission sector and continues to advise the Ministry of National Development on legislation. István Réczicza leads the group.

Within Tax, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

Réczicza White & Case LLP is renowned for ‘masterful levels of service’ and a tax team ‘you can always count on’. Orsolya Bárdosi recently advised Invitel Holdings on tax aspects of its acquisition (and subsequent restructuring) of Fibernet. The team also advised Tippin Corporation on the multi-jurisdictional restructuring of its property portfolio, and represented a European client in a dispute with the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Office.